Find out how much you could earn with today’s money market account rates. Deposit interest rates (including money market account rates) have been falling over the past two years. That’s why it’s more important than ever to compare MMA rates and ensure you earn as much as possible on your balance.
The national average money market account rate stands at 0.56%, according to the FDIC. This might not seem like much, but consider that four years ago, it was just 0.07%. So by historical standards, money market account rates are still quite high.
Even so, some of the top accounts are currently offering over 4% APY. Since these rates may not be around much longer, consider opening a money market account now to take advantage of today’s high rates.
Here’s a look at some of the top MMA rates available today:
The amount of interest you can earn from a money market account depends on the annual percentage rate (APY). This is a measure of your total earnings after one year when considering the base interest rate and how often interest compounds (money market account interest typically compounds daily).
Say you put $10,000 in an MMA at the average interest rate of 0.56% with daily compounding. At the end of one year, your balance would grow to $10,056.16 — your initial $10,000 deposit, plus $56.16 in interest.
Now let’s say you choose a high-yield money market account that offers 4% APY instead. In this case, your balance would grow to $10,408.08 over the same period, which includes $408.08 in interest.
Compared to a traditional savings account, a money market account may come with more restrictions. For example, money market accounts often require a higher minimum balance in order to earn the best interest rate and/or avoid fees. Certain MMAs may also limit the number of withdrawals you can make per month (typically six).
In general, there are no banks that offer a 7% interest rate on money market accounts or any other type of deposit account. That said, you may be able to find local banks and credit unions running limited-time promotional rates on certain accounts, which could be as high as 7%. However, promotional rates at this level often apply to a limited balance.
